Student Sues Ghostwriter Over unfinished Doctoral Thesis in Lüneburg
Lüneburg,Germany – A student is pursuing legal action against a ghostwriter after paying for a complete doctoral thesis that was never formally submitted,raising questions about the legality of such arrangements in German academia. The case, currently before the Lüneburg District Court, centers on whether the contract for the thesis is legally enforceable given the possibly unethical nature of commissioning academic work. A ruling is expected November 11th, tho a settlement remains possible.
The dispute highlights a growing, yet largely unregulated, market for academic ghostwriting services. While the practice itself isn’t explicitly illegal in Germany, the court is examining whether the agreement violates public policy (§138 BGB), potentially rendering the contract void. This would mean neither the student could claim a refund, nor the ghostwriter a payment. The student, who had studied for 13 semesters before exmatriculating, argued that the ghostwriter fulfilled their part of the agreement by delivering a dissertation meeting all formal requirements, noting the frequent use of the word “dissertation” in the provided materials. However, she has already transferred payment for the work and now seeks its return.
According to the presiding judge, if both parties were aware of the unethical implications of the arrangement, the court may rule that the services rendered are not legally recoverable. The student has since accepted a teaching position at an international university, stating she no longer requires a doctorate.
The court will consider evidence suggesting the intention was always to produce a complete dissertation, as indicated by the thoroughness of the submitted work. the case is being closely watched as it could set a precedent for similar disputes involving academic ghostwriting in Germany.
